Display rack



E.l o. BULMAN DISPLAY RACK 2 Sheets-Sheet Y m m m m n m m n 0. A. .N hQM.. a .1. w .w l1 l E M l 7 l a0 3 fm r 7 l 4l .m .8.. o@ m M 1/ m ,Wam. 3 @W 3 .TM [s l .y I 5 11 .AF/0 .o ...L7 h n 9 mi l l .in

Peb. 5, 1929.

E. O. BULMAN DISPLAY RACK Filed Jan. 5, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ewuh OuhmmPatented Feb. 5, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

ELVAH 0. BULMAN, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

DISPLAY RACK.

Application led January 3, 1927.

This invention relates to a display rack particularly adapted for use inretail stores, lt is a primary object and purpose of this ini'ention toconstruct a rack of simple and economi lal construction and in whicharticle or merchandise holdingl trays may be supported either inhorizontal or inclined position. ln the horizontal position differentarticles of merchandise may be held by the trays and in the inclinedposition of the trays, two of the trays together provide a bin in which,as in grocery stores, many unpackaged articles ot merchandise may beheld such as potatoes, various grains and the like. The inventionconsists in many novel details ot' confttruction and arrangements andcombination of parts whereby a rack of this character may be producedand one in which the change of any of the pairs of trays used thereonfrom horizontal to the inclined position, can bc e'tlected almostinstantly and without the use of tools or skilled labor. For anunderstamling of the invention reference may be had to the followingdescription taken in connection with thel accompanying drawings, inwhich,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the rack, the upper trays being locatedin horizontal position and the lower trays in inclined position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the inner endstructure of the supporting frame of the rack for one of the pair oftrays.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2 buthaving a pair of trays applied thereto and held in horizontal position.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3, the trays being changed fromhorizontal vto inclined position in which position they make a bin.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in. the different figuresof the drawings.

In construction, four corner posts 1, preferably of angle iron, are usedand the posts at each side are connected at their lower ends byhorizontal bars 2 of angle iron and at their upper ends by horizontalbars 3 which may be of any desired commercial form. The posts at eachend of the frame are connected by a plurality of cross bars 5, 6 and 7which are welded at their ends to the inturned tianges of the posts 1.The bar 5 is located below the bar 6 and bar 7 above the bar 6. In someinstances the bars 7 are not used, that is, toward the upper ends of therack as Serial No. 158,515.

such bars are used only for additional strengthening` andreinforcement.. Each of the bars 6 between its ends and substantiallymidway between the posts 1- to which it is connected, is formed with aninwardly struck tongue 8, the purpose of which will later appear.

On each of the bars a member of channel form is located and securedsubstantially midway between its ends. Each of said members includes aweb 9, a lower inwardly eX- tending tlange 10 and an upper inwardlyextending flange 11, the web 9 lying against the outer side of its bar Gand being spot welded or otherwise permanently secured thereto. Each ofthe flanges 11 is formed with two spaced apart downwardly pressed ribs12, one lying at each side of the vertical plane ot the tongue S struckfrom the bar and located between the two flanges t() and t l. This isbest shown in Fig. 4.

It is to be understood that there are a number of the bars 6 withassociated bars 5 in the height of the rack. A pair of the bars 6 wit-hthe channel members attached thereto, serve as a support for a pair oftrays located be tween the ends of the frame as will later appear. Inaddition, at the inner sides of the end posts 1, inclined ways or guides13 oli` angle iron are permanently secured, the same inclining fromtheir upper outer ends downwardly and inwardly and meeting substantiallymidway between the front and rear sides of the rack frame. The verticallegs of these guides 13 are secured to the bars 5 and to the posts 1 bywelding and the other legs of said guides adjacent their meeting endsare turned at right angles making stops 1t, the free edges of which comeagainst each other. The vertical tlanges of the guides lil are alsoconnected by a bar 15 welded thereto which is located between bars 5 and(i, as shown in Fig. 2.

The trays which are used are made of sheet metal and are of rectangularform having a bottom 16 from which the metal is turned ii pwardly atright angles at each edge makingsides 17 and the metal of cach side isthen bent back upon itself for reinforcement, as indicated at 18. T hetrays are completed by two ends 19. i

A pair of trays may be disposed, as before stated, between any pair ofthe bars 6 which lie in the same horinontal plane and are attached toopposite ends of the supporting frame. The trays may be moved inwardlyhorizontally so that their inner portions are received between upper andlower flanges 10 and 11 of the channel members, previously described,until their inner sides engage against the lugs 8 which serve stops.Also the inner sides ot the trays pass under the downwardly pressed ribs12 so that when the outer portions ot' the trays are let down tohorizontal position, resting upon the upper ends ot the guides 13, thetrays are secured against outward movement. In such position the traysare adapted to receive and hold any article ot merchandise which can heconveniently placed thereon, packaged or otherwise.

The trays may also be larried in downwardly and inwardly inclinedposition by the guides 1?. ln such case they are disconnected from thechannel members, drawn outwardly and then tilted so as to slide down theguides 13 until their inner sides` corne against the stops 14, as showniu Fig. 4. ln such position the uppc edges ot the inner sides of thetrays abut and malte a closure so that articles placed loosely in thetrays will not drop through any opening between the saine. This ineffect makes a bin which will hold large articles' as the openings between the bars 5, 15 and 6 at the endsy are not so large that the largearticles can pass therethrough, while for smaller articles, such asgrains or the like, any temporary removable end may be fitted in at eachend against the bars 5, 15 and t3.

A rack ot' the character descril'ad is cconomically constructed, all otthe parts being made from stock materials and easily blankcd and formedwith suitable dies. lart ol the trays in the rack may he in horizontalposition and part ot them inclined to inake bins as shown in Fig. 1. Thetrays are readily removed from the rack and are interchangeable betweenthe two positions which they occupy in a very short time without the useot any tools. ylt is evident that the bars 2 and 3 may he disconnectedwhereby the rack can be shipped in knoclidown torni so as to occupy theleastl possible space. This rack construction is very practical andetlective and has so proved in practice. 'lhe invention embodied therebyis detined in the appended claims a u d is to be consideredci'nnprehensive of all t'orius ot structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. A rack comprising a supporting trame, a tray associated with saidVtrame and means on said frame tor supporting said tray in either ahorizontal or an inclined position comprising, an inclined guide on thetrame on which the tray rests in inclined position and a support on theinner portion of the frame located horizontally with the outer end otsaid inclined guide whereby the tray ma),v be supported in horizontalposition by resting on said support at its inner edge and on the outerend ot' theinclined guide at its outer edge.

fr rack comprising, a trame, a tray associated therewith, and means onthe trarne tor supporting said tray in either inclined or horizontalposition comprising, an inclined guide extending downwardly trom theouter side to the inner side of the trame, a stop ou the lower inner endot said inclined guide r-fhcreby the tray rests upon said inclined guideand st op in inclined position, and a support ou the inner portion otthe frame located horizontally with the upper outer end of the inclinedguide whereby the tray may be supported in horizontal position byresting on said support at its inner edge and upon the uppcr outer endot' the inclined guide at its outer edge.

3. A rack comprising, a traine, a tray associated therewith and means onthe trame tor supporting said tray in either inclined or herir/aiuta]position comprising, an inclined `fuide on the trame on which the trayrests in inclined position, a support on the inner portion ot the tramelocated horizontally with the outer cud ot said inclined guide wherebythe tray is supported in horizontal position with it inner edge resting`upon said support and its outer edge resting upon the outer end ot' saidinclined guide and a clip associated with said support and engageablewith said tray to relcasably retain the tray in position on the support.

l. rai-i; comprising. a trame, a tray aS- sociatcd therewith and meanson thel frame to support the tray in either horizontal or inclinedposition comprising, a guide extending downwardly troni the outer to theinner portion ot' the trame, a stop at the lower inner cud of the guidewhereby the tray is supported in inclined position by resting on saidguide and against said stop, a support ou the inner portion ot thetraine located horizontally with the upper outer end ot the inclinedguide whereby said tray is supported Vin horizontal position by restingat its inner edge on said support and at its outer edge on the outerupper end ot said inclined guide and a clip associated with said supportand cngageable iith said tray to releasably retziiu the tray Yinposition on the support.

ln testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ELVAH o. BULMAN.

